Published: Wednesday, 7th July, 2010 5:00pm

The Wynnes' winning herd

At the Irish Holstein Friesian Association national open day on the Buckley Farm, Ballinahina, Cork were Mervyn Jones, IHFA president; Damian Wynne, Ballyconnell, winner in under-70-cow section of the national herds competition; and Donagh Crowley, Lely, sponsor. Photo: O'Gorman Photography
Pic by==: 97

The Ballyconnell based Rowantree herd that won an Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) National Herds Competition produced 11,632kg on average per cow during 2009, at 3.8% fat and 3.44% protein. Those were the figures Lakeland Dairies supplier Damian Wynne, who won the under-70 herd section of the competition, confirmed to The Anglo-Celt last week.

The 31-year-old farms with his parents Brian and Ann and is a member of the Breffni Oriel Holstein Friesian Club. "We were lucky enough to win two awards," said Damian, "the club one for Cavan Monaghan and the national one."

He explained that there are 13 clubs in the country, and each puts forward two qualifying members for the following year's national competition, which is how he and his 63-strong herd qualified.

"There are two legs to the competition," said Damian, "the production calculation done by the society and the second part is when the judge [Mervyn Johnston of the Mullakapin Holstein herd from Lisbellaw] visits each farm. He went to almost 50 herds countrywide and the result of his assessment combined with the production figures gives the overall result."

The judge looks mainly at cow health and presentation, said Damian.

More than 3000 dairy farmers and their families attended the open day of the IHFA on the farm of Thomas and Michael Buckley at the Dublin Pike near Cork. The good weather this summer and rising milk prices helped to make this one of the best attended agri-events organised this year.

Some 60 exhibitors had stands there and the feedback was positive; major sponsors included Dairymaster, Keenan Systems, Lely Robotics, National Dairy Council and Volac. Admission and parking was free while ice cream, food and drinks were supplied all day FOC courtesy of the Cork club, Down Syndrome society and lady volunteers.

Charles Gallagher, CEO and Cavan born Mervyn Jones, president of the IHFA welcomed the visitors from near and far. Thomas Buckley spoke on the Ballinahina herd and how their targets for a balanced cow (combining consistent type, fertility, production, and protein) and a good family farm income have been achieved.

The National Herds competition was judged by Mervyn Johnston and first prize in the over 70 herd section went to a Kerry Coop supplier, Paul Hannan and the Lisnalty herd.

Visitors to this event also had the opportunity to attend various demos and work shops hosted by Dairymaster, FRS Network, Keenan and Teagasc. Don Crowley of Teagasc on the Dairymaster stand spoke on somatic cell counts while his colleagues Billy Kelleher discussed body condition scoring.

• ihfa.ie

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